March 31, 2009 2:47 PM
Lesley Stahl reports on computer viruses that propagate on the Internet and infect PCs, which enable their creators - often called "cyber gangs" - to learn the information they need to electronically rob bank accounts.
The Conficker Worm: What Happens Next?
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In the following example, I would like to give an advice, which may be helpful, and may prevent future unwanted virus installations. First off, a Windows based machine should have few users; an Administrator, which must have a password, a specified user, for example: Sunny, and a Guest user. An Administrator, who's job is to install new programs and upgrades, should always be professional and should know the websites before he/she enters. A user, as in example Sunny, may be ignorant about computer administration, which is fine, be cool, no problem! So, let's say Administrator has logged off the computer, and user Sunny logs in and enters a website which contains a virus (self installing one.) Now, user Sunny does not know what to do and he clicks on the virus. The virus, which is trying to install itself using Sunny's access, get's a message from the computer: Hey pal, you're not an administrator...you can't install a piece of software...if you like to install it, ask you daddy, the Administrator. And this is how the virus get's rejected.
Of course, this is just a theory and has not been tested--I'm not a computer specialist, thus I can't fully guarantee this procedure. But as a person who looks for unity--and that is global unity---I ought to say that a news report with a panic message, should also provide ways of a problem in less costly way. And that cost applies to all---monetary, national interest and so forth. And as a note to CBS news reporter, I am sure that you know that Russia is a large territory with multiple nations. It is incorrect to label these criminal hackers as "Russian Hackers." In my own understanding, there should be a specific lawful person, or group of persons behind this criminal activity. And I hope, strongly hope, that this message of yours---about "Russian Hackers"----will not hint the Russian media to label U.S.A. hackers as "American Hackers." Because that would be a total berzurk.
Finally, just like our newly elected president Barack Obama says,--let's find solutions and not blame on each other. I am sure that these hackers will be punished. And I am sure that people, together, will find solutions to prevent future computer threats.
P.S. My special thanks to 5 members of this global discussions, ryan_rutan, sjackson29 , play4mericky, dvschorn, RussianHacker, thank you for participating in this global issue. I hope that we, people interested in global unity, will be large one day, and will work together.
Yes the Conflicker Virus is a blemish on the face of society, and it can cause problems for everyone (running Windows); however, if we stop and ask why this Virus is even possible, we'd see a wealth of knowledge dating back in Microsoft's history on how they've basically created the marketplace for mainstream anti-virus software. Microsoft has chosen to let their operating system's run loose and free, enabling applications to automate behavior without any regard as to whether or not they should be allowed. This is the bed in which these hate-children viral applications are created.
A simple question, did you seek out Symantec, or did they seek you out for this story? And who recommended Google as the #1 candidate for responsibility? My guess is that Symantec dropped dime on Google. What other high profile name could they provide that would sound legitimate, besides Microsoft? Google is the obvious choice, because you sure don?t bite the hand that feeds you. To even think, that a company like Google should bare the blame is absurd, when they?ve gone above and beyond their calling to protect web browsers. What has Microsoft done? Provided a 1-off security patch, while leaving the fundamentals of their operating system flawed to strike again later?
But you can?t be too hard against Microsoft; they did try. I mean Windows Vista has so many ?Did you mean??, ?Are you sure??, and ?Please login to confirm?? pop-up windows, that everyone hated it. They HATED the operating system that was trying to help them, and that affects Microsoft?s bottom-line. As well as many other companies who are suckling on the Microsoft Teet; such as Intel, McAfee, Norton, Dell, and HP to name a few. I only hope that the new Windows 7 will fix these underlying security problems, rather than open the doors wide-open again to try and gain back its lost market share. Because that is the rub, do they do what is best for society as a whole, or what?s better for them and their financial constituents?
Your story did touch on a point that I think Microsoft should use in their next commercial, ?Hi, I?m xxxxxx. I?m 8 years old, and I make viruses for PCs, because it?s that easy!? That would be a viral video worth watching!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conficker
A Correction: 60 Minutes made a mistake in using a photograph in our story called "The Internet is Infected." The picture was described in the story as a group of young Russian computer hackers which was inaccurate. The picture, provided to us by an Internet security company, had appeared on a Russian hacker magazine Web site.
This video is an updated version of the original broadcast.
Daniel Schorn / 60Minutes.com
The Internet Is Infected - Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE6Kn-1zjUM
The Internet Is Infected - Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTQmvIGGspA
Cnet has transcript: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10206784-83.html
this part of transcript is edited out of clips shown above:
"Russian authorities tend to look the other way, which explains why members of the cyber gangs have no fear. They even show their faces on the Internet.
One of the hackers, who calls himself "Tempest," is just 14 years old and working full time. "So he can't legally drive a car and he can't join the army, but he can hack into banks and siphon money out," Jackson remarked. "
Finlands biggest newspaper: (sorry only in finnish) http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Amerikkalaisohjelma+leimasi+suomalaisnuoret+nettirikollisiksi/1135244835194
Sencored part of video started around 10:40..
..somehow I suspect that these comments will disappear quite quickly..
"The Internet Is Infected -episode and the false hacker photo
In 60 Minutes' episode "The Internet Is Infected" (March 29 2009) SecureWorks' Don Jackson, a data protection professional, is interviewed. Jackson himself declares in the programme that: "A part of my job is to know the enemy". However, during the interview, Jackson shows a photo of Finnish upper level comprehensive school pupils and falsely identifies them as notorious Russian hackers.
The photo's exact origins are unknown, but it's widely known in Finland, that it was originally posted to a very popular Finnish social networking site, IRC-Galleria, in the early 2000s. From there, due to its partly humorous radical right content, it spread all over Finnish internet communities and even originated a couple of patriotically titled (but intentionally misspelled) mock sites.
In the photo, one of the children is wearing a jacket with the Coat of Arms of Finland on it. Another of the children is wearing a cap which clearly has the logo of Karjala, which is a Finnish brand of beer, on it."
and the original comments for unedited clip are still here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4901282n
(not for long presumably)
Please CBS and 60 Minutes. IF you make a mistake DO not just cover it up.
Your credibility is on the line.